Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 247 – Inner heat Last week I wrote about Jesus’ light reflected off you all. This week I want to talk about the warmth you exude as you adventure with Christ. Perhaps because it was -30C earlier this week, we need this devotion to warm us up! “There is an inner heat to the word Christian that we can’t be warmed by unless we risk the adventure”.  Martin Shaw Being an...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 246 – Friends This morning Terri and I finished Romans in our devotions. Afterwards, we drove back through the beautiful, austere white-snowed aspen-greyed countryside from Withrow Gospel Mission where we were part of a team presenting on marriage (Thank you Withrow for a great night!). As we arrived back in Edmonton, we were greeted by that most wondrous phenomenon of Alberta’s...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 245 – Which trees to cut? It is really tempting in business to go for short-term extractive gains even at the expense of sustainable (evergreen) revenue. “Only the trees that you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, that you may build siegeworks against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.” Deuteronomy 20:20 If you are in the business for the long haul,...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 244 – A light touch J, our 6-year-old grandson came over today. After learning about hospitality in Sunday school, he was eager to practice by making tea for his Nana, Terri. “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’ ” Isaiah 41:13 J has not made tea before, but he has seen it done. He needed a gentle, guiding touch. I...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 243 – Beauty One of the great joys of being a pilgrim businessperson is that you can have an eternal perspective. Even as a diligent steward who monitors every quarter, as a God-fearer, you have the assurance that you are building something beautiful for eternity. “In every experience of beauty, we are being prepared for eternity.” Martin Shaw It is a double reward; you and your...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 242 – Good fences I have had great experiences in business and not so great experiences. One of the distinctions between these two trajectories is that when I had good experiences, expectations were clearly articulated and written down. Where I have had poor experiences, things were not transcribed.  “Fences make good neighbours, and good paperwork means good partners,” Marty Writing things...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 241 – Gather the fragments Knowing one’s core revenue streams and the margin you gain from them is critical. “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” John 6:12 As we enter the new year, it’s a fitting time to evaluate how your existing streams of income are performing and explore how they might be...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 240 – Roped together on the rock of Christ There are times when being an entrepreneur can be lonely. “The buck stops here” popularized by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. As a business owner, the final decision often rests with you. But while responsibility may end there, that’s not how wise decisions are made. “We are roped together on rock on Christ,” Marilea Marilea, one of...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 239 – Soft hearted It doesn’t make sense. “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:12 In business and world affairs, we are accustomed to power prevailing. Yet, God, The Almighty, came in the form of a helpless baby, completely dependent on His mother and father for care. It’s another example of God turning human paradigms on their...

Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 238 – Challenge the Tradition I am in Tajikistan where we are attending a wedding of a dear friend. At the religious ceremony, our friend, the bride, was veiled, had to look in a mirror, and put her finger in honey. When we asked her what the traditions represented, she said she didn’t know.  “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the...